A new market in Northcliff is making waves as it strives to improve the lives of those living rough in the broader community.
Held at Tshepo, a community development initiative which is an imaginative organisation assisting the homeless through programmes that encourage entrepreneurship and fosters growth.
Japie Krige, Tshepo’s general manager said, “We run a soup kitchen on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday where people can receive a hot meal and use our showers.”
They also have a full-time social worker who assists their clients to find solutions to their problems with a view to getting back on their feet. Programmes focusing on the youth, conservation-farming techniques and job creation among others, all work toward helping the indigent to lead meaningful and sustainable lives.
Tshepo has a lovely outdoor area that they have opened to the community on the first Saturday of each month. They focus on vendors that benefit the community like the Fairland CPF and Gifted or individuals that are trying to find alternative income streams after the economic devastation of Covid-19.
All stall holders are entrepreneurs that sell everything from handcrafted wooden sculptures, delicious curries, fresh vegetables from the Tshepo gardens and much more.
Yasmine Miemiek’s permanent stall at Tshepo runs Gifted. She is the organiser of the market, and a member of the Fairland CPF. She said she ‘did not want a shop in a mall as she wants to work in and with the community and hopes in her small way to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate’.
Some of her products, for example, are made from upcycled corporate waste products like advertising fabrics and branding which become beautiful bags, clothing, and jewellery.
The Fairland CPF sells flavourful halal boerewors rolls to raise funds to finance their projects. They operate with a lens to fighting crime via their Community in Blue patrollers, supporting SAPS management with needs at the station and being a vital conduit between SAPS and the public.
Secretary of the CPF Mahmood Cassim also said that the market was a great opportunity for ‘the CPF to be on hand to meet members of the public and be visible’.
Members of the public that would like to learn more about the market or to enquire about having a food stall can call Jasmine Miemiek on
079 473 8901.
Visit https://www.tshepo.org.za/ for more information about Tshepo situated at the corner of Pendoring and Weltevreden Road, Northcliff.
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